Tuesdays with Morrie

In spite of much hype about the book, I have only started reading the book yesterday. I had brushed the hype aside, thinking that it's another touchy-feely, wishy-washy, self-help book with all the cliched lessons that we have been taught by Pendidikan Moral, Mum and Chicken Soup for Every Soul Imaginable.

Hence, I picked the book up with derision and a touch of cynicism. Little did I know that the good old values were written in such a way that it could still touch me. I was so touched that my eyes began to tear and I had to "tahan" since I was in Borders after all. It would be a comically tragic Cambridge scene, if I started bawling my eyes out with my dishevelled hair(day in library), crumply clothes(too busy to iron), a book on Human Reproduction and a stack of notes in my arms. A student on nervous breakdown would be quickly assumed ;)

Yes, it is Still a cliched book. Filled with all the good, sensible thoughts that we know but occasionally/never do; always have time for family and friends, don't dwell in self-pity, trust people and earn trust in return, open your heart to love, be positive, etc. They are all old lessons but forgotten in parts. I guess, once a while, a cliched book should come your way to kick your ass to make you remember your lessons and do the right thing. Of course, an incident to drive home the point would be ideal.....

Always have time for family and friends, in my case, strangers in need.

Earlier on Thursday, I was in Sainsbury when all my coins fell out of my purse and ran in every direction at the Sainsbury entrance. ONE POUND rolled and rolled near to the deli counter. One rather old man with a cane was there and was chasing after the ONE POUND for me. After I had picked up all my coins except for the ONE POUND that went missing, he gestured to me that it's under the shelves of Easter Eggs by the entrance. I was not up for lying at the floor and trying to peer under the shelves to find that ONE POUND. My reasons being that it's undignified and my ass would be sticking out towards the entrance for everyone coming into Sainsbury to see. So I just bent down and gave a little peek. Not having spot the ONE POUND, I decided to give up and tried to thank the nice old man for his troubles on my behalf.

Then, another nice old lady with a cane stopped by and was asking me what had happened. "Oh dear, I shouldn't quit looking for the coin now," I thought to myself. So I gingerly lowered myself to the floor again and tried to angle my ass away from the entrance to spot the ONE POUND once more. The old lady offered me her cane to poke around! Then, the old man himself lowered himself to the ground and try to spot the ONE POUND for me. Their kindness is unbelievable! I couldn't believe that two people with walking disabilities were willing to through so much trouble just for this girl and her missing ONE POUND.

That incident touched me and Tuesdays with Morrie reminded me of their kindness for a stranger. They had time to help me even when they could just ignore my predicament and continued with their shopping. I, myself would have given up if not for them- it's too much of a bother for just ONE POUND. Hmm...the world is not such an ugly place after all. People still care for you. You are not just another faceless, nameless person in the crowd. There is always spare time to help look for someone's else ONE POUND, no matter how little they think it's worth because you could make someone's day!

So, what happened to the ONE POUND?

The ONE POUND was NOT under the shelves. It was standing quietly in open view on the floor behind the shelves. We finally found it after much hassle and perhaps in time for a lesson learnt.

:)